Altus Sport

1. Executive Summary

 

On 12 September 2026, Altus Sport, in partnership with the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC), hosted the Dakar 2026 Flame Tour at Nellmapius Community Ground. The event formed part of the build-up to the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games and sought to bring the Olympic spirit, values and excitement of the Games directly into the community.

 

The Flame Tour provided children and young people with an opportunity to engage with the symbolism of the Olympic flame through sport, movement, creativity, culture, sustainability and future-focused activities.

 

The event directly engaged 136 children, comprising 74 girls and 62 boys, while 77 educators and Youth Leaders supported the activities, of whom 63 were female and 14 male. In addition, the broader Flame Tour activities reached 1,210 children through colouring sheets and the Dakar Word Hunt, comprising 617 girls and 593 boys, across 21 schools.

 

The event created an energetic and inclusive environment where participants could experience Olympic values not simply as concepts, but through practical activities that encouraged friendship, participation, physical activity, creativity, teamwork, sustainability and positive values.

 

The event concluded with a symbolic message that captured its purpose:

 

“Here we have lit the flame of Olympism to burn within each and every one of us. We will strive for positive values, build friendships, be active and have fun!”

 

2. Background and Context

 

The Dakar 2026 Flame Tour was designed to build anticipation for the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games while strengthening understanding of Olympic values within participating communities.

 

The event was hosted under the theme “We Run for Africa”, connecting the local experience of young people in Nellmapius with the wider Olympic movement and the upcoming Dakar 2026 Games.

 

A central feature of the event was the Olympic flame. Altus Sport Youth Sport Leaders, together with SASCOC representatives, explained the significance of the flame and its connection to the values and spirit of the Olympic movement. The event therefore positioned the flame as more than a physical object—it became a symbol of connection, participation, aspiration and shared values.

 

3. Purpose of the Event

 

The Flame Tour had a number of interconnected purposes:

 

To build anticipation for the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games.

To strengthen awareness of Olympic values among children and young people.

To provide opportunities for meaningful participation through sport and physical activity.

To use sport as a platform for learning, teamwork and social connection.

To introduce creative and cultural activities linked to the Olympic flame.

To promote sustainability and environmental awareness.

To encourage young people to think about their future and the values they want to carry forward.

To create an inclusive community celebration around the Olympic movement.

 

The event was intentionally structured across several activity areas, allowing participants to engage with the Flame Tour through sport, fun, art and culture, sustainability and future thinking.

 

4. Participation and Reach

 

The event achieved significant community participation.

 

Direct Event Participation

 

136 children participated directly in the Flame Tour event:

 

GenderNumber

Girls      74

Boys      62

Total      136

 

In addition, 77 educators and Youth Leaders participated in supporting and facilitating the activities:

 

Group   FemaleMale      Total

Educators / Youth Leaders          63           14           77

 

The event and associated activities reached participants from 21 schools.

 

Wider Engagement

 

The colouring sheets and Dakar Word Hunt extended engagement beyond the main event, reaching 1,210 children:

 

617 girls

593 boys

 

This provided an additional mechanism for children to engage with Dakar 2026 and the Olympic theme outside of the main event environment.

 

5. Programme Activities

 

The Flame Tour was delivered through a diverse range of activities designed to engage participants physically, socially, creatively and intellectually.

 

5.1 Running for the Flame

 

The event began with the symbolic Running for the Flame activity.

 

Torchbearers included Khotso Mokoena, SASCOC Board Member, and Dudu Gama, Youth Sport Leader from Altus Sport.

 

The activity created a visible and energetic connection between the participants and the Olympic flame, allowing young people to physically experience the symbolism of carrying the flame.

 

It also provided an opportunity for participants to see leadership and participation demonstrated by both an Olympic representative and a Youth Sport Leader.

 

5.2 Mix-It-Up Relay Race

 

The Mix-It-Up Relay Race encouraged participants to work together through movement, coordination and teamwork.

 

The activity formed part of the core programme and contributed to the overall focus on participation, physical activity and shared experience.

 

5.3 Flame Tour Streetsoccer Tournament

 

A Flame Tour Streetsoccer Tournament formed one of the key sporting components of the event.

 

The activity provided participants with an opportunity to engage in football in a playful and inclusive environment, encouraging movement, teamwork and participation.

 

The tournament was particularly effective in creating an energetic atmosphere and allowing participants to engage with one another through sport.

 

5.4 Flame Tour Touch Rugby Tournament

 

Touch Rugby provided another opportunity for participants to engage in physical activity while developing teamwork and cooperation.

 

The activity allowed children to experience a different sporting code and participate in a format that emphasised movement, interaction and collective play.

 

6. Fun Kit Activities

 

The event extended beyond physical activity through the use of educational and creative resources.

 

Participants engaged with:

 

Colouring Sheets

Dakar Word Hunt

 

These activities provided children with opportunities to explore the Dakar 2026 and Olympic themes through creative and educational activities.

 

The wider use of these resources contributed to the reported reach of 1,210 children across the participating schools.

 

7. Art and Culture

 

Art and culture formed an important component of the Flame Tour.

 

Racing with Rhythm

 

Racing with Rhythm incorporated movement, rhythm and group participation, allowing participants to explore the relationship between physical activity, music and culture.

 

Dance of Transmission

 

The Dance of Transmission activity further reinforced the idea of passing something from one person to another through movement and collective participation.

 

The activity created opportunities for children to express themselves creatively while participating as part of a group.

 

Together, these activities reinforced the idea that the Olympic experience extends beyond competitive sport and can also be expressed through culture, creativity, movement and community.

 

8. Sustainability

 

Sustainability was incorporated into the Flame Tour through two activities:

 

Seeds of the Future

 

Participants engaged in Seeds of the Future, providing an opportunity to connect the idea of the future with environmental awareness and growth.

 

From Nature to Art

 

From Nature to Art challenged participants to use natural and recycled materials creatively.

 

The activity encouraged children to consider how everyday materials can be transformed into something meaningful and visually expressive.

 

These activities strengthened the sustainability dimension of the Flame Tour while allowing participants to learn through practical, creative engagement.

 

9. Future Thinking

 

The Future Skills Badge activity introduced a future-oriented element to the event.

 

Participants created their own badges incorporating messages and imagery connected to Olympic values and concepts such as:

 

Peace

Friendship

Respect

Participation

Positive values

 

The activity provided children with a way to express what the Olympic spirit meant to them personally and what values they wanted to carry forward.

 

This was particularly valuable in moving the event beyond simply celebrating the Dakar 2026 Games and towards asking young people to consider their own role in shaping the future.

 

10. Olympic Values

 

Olympic values were embedded throughout the event rather than being presented as a separate theoretical component.

 

Through sport, creative activities, teamwork, cultural expression and future-thinking exercises, participants were encouraged to engage with positive values and build connections with others.

 

The event's closing message explicitly highlighted the intention to:

 

Strive for positive values.

Build friendships.

Be active.

Have fun.

 

The photographs and activities documented throughout the report demonstrate young people participating collectively, supporting one another and engaging enthusiastically with the different stations.

 

11. Role of Youth Sport Leaders

 

Youth Sport Leaders played an important role in the delivery of the event.

 

They were involved in setting up and facilitating activity stations and creating an environment that was engaging and enjoyable for the children.

 

The event report specifically acknowledges the Youth Sport Leaders for their effort in preparing their stations and making the activities fun for participants, including their involvement from set-up through to pack-up.

 

Their involvement demonstrates the value of positioning young people not only as programme participants but also as facilitators, leaders and contributors to community activities.

 

12. Leadership and Inspirational Contributions

 

The event benefited from the involvement of Olympic and SASCOC representatives.

 

Khotso Mokoena, SASCOC Board Member, provided a motivational message to participants.

 

Gert Potgieter, Executive Director of Altus Sport, delivered the welcome.

 

Patience Shikwambana, Chief Executive Officer of SASCOC, delivered the closing message.

 

The event also acknowledged the contribution of Khotso Mokoena and Gert Potgieter as former Olympians, noting their time, enthusiasm and contribution to the day.

 

Their participation helped create a direct connection between the young participants and individuals with experience within the Olympic movement.

 

13. Partnership and Collaboration

 

The Flame Tour was presented by Altus Sport in partnership with SASCOC.

 

The event demonstrated the potential of collaboration between an Olympic governing body and a Sport for Development organisation to bring major sporting initiatives into local communities.

 

The report acknowledges the contribution of a range of partners and stakeholders, including:

 

SASCOC

Altus Sport

City of Tshwane

Youth Sport Leaders

SASCOC Marketing Team

SASCOC Team

Spar Silver Oaks

Lyborn Mudau

Khotso Mokoena

Gert Potgieter

 

The City of Tshwane supported the provision of the venue, while Spar Silver Oaks supported the delivery of lunch.

 

The event also made use of a toolkit produced by the International Olympic Committee and the Olympic Foundation for Culture and Heritage, which supported the implementation of the activities.

 

14. Key Outcomes

 

Based on the documented activities and participation data, the Flame Tour achieved several key outcomes.

 

1. Increased exposure to Olympic values

 

Children were given practical opportunities to engage with Olympic values through sport, teamwork, creativity and discussion.

 

2. Increased participation in physical activity

 

The programme incorporated multiple active components, including running, relay activities, Streetsoccer and Touch Rugby.

 

3. Youth leadership opportunities

 

Youth Sport Leaders were actively involved in the delivery of the event, supporting activity stations and engaging directly with participants.

 

4. Gender-inclusive participation

 

The direct event participation included 74 girls and 62 boys, demonstrating participation by both girls and boys.

 

5. Broader school engagement

 

The Flame Tour activities extended beyond the main event, reaching 21 schools and providing resources to engage a wider group of children.

 

6. Integration of sport and education

 

The event combined sport with creative, cultural, environmental and future-thinking activities, providing a more holistic engagement experience.

 

7. Community connection to Dakar 2026

 

The event created a tangible connection between young people in the local community and the upcoming Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games.

 

15. Overall Event Reflection

 

The Flame Tour demonstrated how a major international sporting event can be translated into a local, accessible and meaningful community experience.

 

Rather than limiting participation to watching or following the Youth Olympic Games, the event created opportunities for young people to run, play, create, learn, collaborate and express themselves.

 

The combination of physical activity, Olympic values, art and culture, sustainability and future thinking created a multidimensional experience for participants.

 

Importantly, the event placed young people at the centre of the experience. They were not simply spectators of the Olympic movement; they became active participants in carrying its values forward.

 

The symbolic lighting and carrying of the flame provided a particularly powerful focal point. The flame became a representation of the idea that the Olympic spirit can be carried by every participant, regardless of whether they will ever compete at an Olympic or Youth Olympic Games.

 

16. Conclusion

 

The Dakar 2026 Flame Tour at Nellmapius Community Ground was a successful celebration of sport, youth participation and Olympic values.

 

With 136 children directly participating, 77 educators and Youth Leaders involved, engagement across 21 schools, and an additional 1,210 children reached through the colouring and Dakar Word Hunt activities, the initiative created meaningful opportunities for young people to connect with the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games.

 

The partnership between SASCOC and Altus Sport demonstrated the power of collaboration in taking the Olympic movement into communities and creating opportunities for young people to experience its values through practical participation.

 

The message of the Flame Tour can ultimately be captured in the event's own words:

 

The flame is not only something that is carried. It is something that is shared.

 

Through sport, friendship, creativity, participation and positive values, the Flame Tour gave young people an opportunity to carry that flame forward — from Nellmapius towards Dakar 2026.

Attachments:

• Flame Tour 2026 (PDF)